1.     Parliament shall lay down rules governing the transparency of its Members' financial interests in the form of a Code of Conduct which shall be adopted by a majority of its component Members and attached to these Rules of Procedure as an annex  (4) .

2.     Members should adopt the systematic practice of only meeting interest representatives that have registered in the Transparency Register established by means of the Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register  (5) .

3a.     Members shall not compromise the smooth conduct of parliamentary business and shall not compromise the maintenance of security and order on Parliament’s premises or the functioning of its equipment.

3b.     Members shall not disrupt the good order of the Chamber and shall refrain from improper behaviour. They shall not display banners.

3c.     In parliamentary debates in the Chamber, Members shall not resort to offensive language.

3d.     Members shall comply with Parliament’s rules on the treatment of confidential information.

3e.     Members shall refrain from any type of psychological or sexual harassment and shall respect the Code of appropriate behaviour for Members of the European Parliament in exercising their duties which is attached to these Rules of Procedure as an annex  (1a)

4.     The application of this Rule shall not otherwise detract from the liveliness of parliamentary debates, nor shall it undermine Members' freedom of speech.

5.   Where a person employed by a Member, or another person for whom the Member has arranged access to Parliament's premises or equipment, fails to comply with the standards of conduct set out in paragraph 3, the penalties provided for in Rule 166 may, where appropriate, be imposed upon the Member concerned.

5.   Where a person working for a Member, or another person for whom the Member has arranged access to Parliament's premises or equipment, fails to comply with the standards of conduct set out in this Rule , this behaviour may, where appropriate, be imputable to the Member concerned.

5a.     The application of this Rule shall not otherwise detract from the liveliness of parliamentary debates, nor shall it undermine Members' freedom of speech.

5b.     This Rule shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in Parliament’s bodies, committees and delegations.

6.     The Quaestors shall determine the maximum number of assistants who may be registered by each Member.

7.     The code of conduct and the rights and privileges of former Members shall be laid down by a decision of the Bureau. No distinction shall be made in the treatment of former Members.

1.     Parliament shall lay down rules governing the transparency of its Members' financial interests in the form of a Code of Conduct which shall be adopted by a majority of its component Members and attached to these Rules of Procedure as an annex  (1a) .

2.     Members should adopt the systematic practice of only meeting interest representatives that have registered in the Transparency Register established by means of the Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on the transparency register  (1b) .

3.     Members should publish online all scheduled meetings with interest representatives falling under the scope of the Transparency register. Without prejudice to Article 4(6) of Annex I, rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs and committee chairs shall, for each report, publish online all scheduled meetings with interest representatives falling under the scope of the Transparency register. The Bureau shall provide for necessary infrastructure on Parliament's website.

4.     The Bureau shall provide the necessary infrastructure on Members’ online page on Parliament’s website for those Members who wish to publish a voluntary audit or confirmation, as provided for under the applicable rules of the Statute for Members and its implementing rules, that their use of the General Expenditure Allowance complies with the applicable rules of the Statute for Members and its implementing measures.

5.     These rules shall not otherwise prejudice or restrict Members in the exercise of their office or of any related political or other activity.

6.     The code of conduct and the rights and privileges of former Members shall be laid down by a decision of the Bureau. No distinction shall be made in the treatment of former Members.

5.   The President shall be notified in a statement when a political group is set up. That statement shall specify the name of the group and the names of its members and bureau members. It shall be signed by all members of the group.

5.    The President shall be notified in a statement when a political group is set up. That statement shall specify:

1a.     Intergroups as well as other unofficial groupings shall be fully transparent in their actions and shall not engage in any activities which might result in confusion with the official activities of Parliament or of its bodies. They may not organise events in third countries that coincide with a mission of an official Parliament body, including an official election observation delegation.

2.    Such groupings shall be fully transparent in their actions and shall not engage in any activities which might result in confusion with the official activities of Parliament or of its bodies. Provided that the conditions laid down in the rules adopted by the Bureau governing their establishment are complied with, political groups may facilitate their activities by providing them with logistical support.

2.   Provided that the conditions laid down in Parliament’s internal rules governing the establishment of such groupings are complied with, a political group may facilitate their activities by providing them with logistical support.

3 a.     Only interest representatives who are registered in the Transparency register may participate in intergroup or other unofficial grouping activities organised on Parliament’s premises, for instance by attending meetings or events of the intergroup or other unofficial grouping, by offering support to it, or by co-hosting its events.

4.   The Quaestors shall keep a register of the declarations referred to in paragraph 3. That register shall be published on the Parliament's website . The Quaestors shall adopt detailed rules on those declarations and shall ensure the effective enforcement of this Rule.

4.   The Quaestors shall keep a register of the declarations referred to in paragraph 3. The Quaestors shall adopt detailed rules on those declarations and their publication on Parliament’s website .

4a.     The Quaestors shall ensure the effective enforcement of this Rule.

4.    One of the questioners may move the question in Parliament. The addressee shall answer.

4.    A Member designated in advance by the questioners shall move the question in Parliament . If that Member is not present, the question shall lapse. The addressee shall answer.

1.   Any Member may put questions for written answer to the President of the European Council, to the Council, to the Commission or to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in accordance with criteria laid down in an annex to these Rules of Procedure (27). The content of questions shall be the sole responsibility of their authors.

1.   Any Member, a political group or a committee may put questions for written answer to the President of the European Council, to the Council, to the Commission or to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in accordance with criteria laid down in an annex to these Rules of Procedure (27). The content of questions shall be the sole responsibility of their authors.

2.   Questions shall be submitted to the President. Issues concerning the admissibility of a question shall be decided by the President. The President's decision shall not be based exclusively on the provisions of the annex referred to in paragraph 1 but on the provisions of these Rules of Procedure in general. The questioner shall be notified of the President's reasoned decision.

2.   Questions shall be submitted in electronic form to the President. Issues concerning the admissibility of a question shall be decided by the President. The President's decision shall not be based exclusively on the provisions of the annex referred to in paragraph 1 but on the provisions of these Rules of Procedure in general. The questioner shall be notified of the President's reasoned decision.

3.    Questions shall be submitted in electronic format . Each Member may submit a maximum of twenty questions over a rolling period of three months.

3.   Each Member, political group or committee may submit a maximum of twenty questions over a rolling period of three months. As a general rule, the questions shall be answered by the addressee within six weeks of being forwarded to it. However, any Member, political group or committee may every month designate one of its questions as a ‘priority question’ to be answered by the addressee within three weeks of being forwarded to it.

5.   If a question cannot be answered by the addressee within three weeks (priority question) or within six weeks (non-priority question) of being forwarded to the addressee, it may, at the request of the author, be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the committee responsible .

5.   If a question was not answered by the addressee within the deadline provided for in paragraph 3, the committee responsible may decide to place it on the agenda for its next meeting.

6.     Each Member may table one priority question per month.

7.   Questions, and any answers, including their related annexes, thereto, shall be published on Parliament’s website.

7.   Questions, and answers, including their related annexes, thereto, shall be published on Parliament’s website.

1.     In minor interpellations, consisting in questions for written answer, the Council, the Commission or the Vice-President of the Commission/High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy may be asked by a committee, a political group or at least five per cent of Parliament’s component Members to provide Parliament with information on specifically designated issues.

2.     Questions and answers shall be published on Parliament's website.

1.    In major interpellations, consisting in questions for written answer with debate , those questions may be put to the Council, the Commission or the Vice-President of the Commission/High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy by a committee, a political group or at least five percent of Parliament’s component Members. Questions may include a brief explanatory statement.

1.   Major interpellations shall consist of questions for written answer put to the Council, the Commission or the Vice-President of the Commission/High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy by a political group.

1a.     The major interpellation shall be of general interest and shall be submitted in writing to the President. It shall not exceed 500 words. Provided that the major interpellation is in accordance with the provisions of the Rules in general, the President shall immediately transmit it to the addressee for a written answer.

1b.     There shall be maximum 30 major interpellations every year. The Conference of Presidents shall ensure a fair distribution of such interpellations among the political groups, and no political group shall submit more than one per month.

1c.     If the addressee fails to answer the major interpellation within six weeks of being forwarded to it, the interpellation shall, at the request of the author, be placed on the final draft agenda of Parliament in accordance with the procedure provided for in Rule 149 and subject to paragraph 3a.

2.   On receipt of the written reply , the major interpellation shall be placed on the draft agenda of Parliament in accordance with the procedure provided for in Rule 149. A debate must be held if a committee, a political group or at least five per cent of Parliament’s component Members so demand.

2.   On receipt of the written answer, if Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold so request , the major interpellation shall be placed on the final draft agenda of Parliament in accordance with the procedure provided for in Rule 149 and subject to paragraph 3a .

3.     If the addressee refuses to answer the question or fails to do so within three weeks, the question shall be placed on the draft agenda. A debate must be held if a committee, a political group or at least five per cent of Parliament’s component Members so demand. Prior to the debate one of the questioners may be given leave to state supplementary reasons for the question.

3a.     The number of major interpellations debated during the same part-session shall not exceed three. If debates are requested for more than three major interpellations during the same part-session, the Conference of Presidents shall include them in the final draft agenda in the order it has received those requests for debate.

4.    One of the questioners may move the question in Parliament. One member of the institution concerned shall answer.

4.    A Member designated in advance by the author, or by those requesting the debate in accordance with paragraph 2, shall move the major interpellation in Parliament. If that Member is not present, the major interpellation shall lapse. The addressee shall answer.

5.   Such questions , as well as the answers to them, shall be published on Parliament's website.

5.   Such interpellations , as well as the answers to them, shall be published on Parliament's website.

1.   The President shall call to order any Member who disrupts the smooth conduct of the proceedings or whose conduct fails to comply with the relevant provisions of Rule 11.

1.   The President shall call to order any Member who breaches the standards of conduct defined in Rule 11 (3b) or (3c).

2.   If the offence is repeated, the President shall call the Member to order a second time, and the fact shall be recorded in the minutes.

2.   If the breach is repeated, the President shall call the Member to order a second time, and the fact shall be recorded in the minutes.

3.   If the disturbance continues, or if a further offence is committed, the Member may be denied the right to speak and may be excluded from the Chamber by the President for the remainder of the sitting. In cases of exceptional seriousness, the President may also resort to exclusion of the Member concerned from the Chamber for the remainder of the sitting immediately and without a second call to order. The Secretary-General shall, without delay, see to it that such disciplinary measures are carried out, with the assistance of the ushers and, if necessary, of Parliament's Security Service.

3.   If the breach continues, or if a further breach is committed, the Member may be denied the right to speak and may be excluded from the Chamber by the President for the remainder of the sitting. In cases of exceptional seriousness, the President may also resort to exclusion of the Member concerned from the Chamber for the remainder of the sitting immediately and without a second call to order. The Secretary-General shall, without delay, see to it that such disciplinary measures are carried out, with the assistance of the ushers and, if necessary, of Parliament's Security Service.

5.   The President may decide to interrupt the live broadcasting of the sitting in the case of defamatory, racist or xenophobic language or behaviour by a Member.

5.   The President may decide to interrupt the live broadcasting of the sitting in the case of a breach of Rule 11(3b) or (3c) by a Member.

1.   In serious cases of disorder or disruption of Parliament in violation of the principles laid down in Rule 11 , the President shall adopt a reasoned decision imposing the appropriate penalty.

1.   In serious cases of breach of Rule 11 (3a) to (5b), the President shall adopt a reasoned decision imposing upon the Member concerned the appropriate penalty in accordance with this Rule.

1a.     The Member concerned shall be invited by the President to submit written observations before the decision is adopted. The President may decide to convene an oral hearing instead whenever it is more appropriate.

2.   When assessing the conduct observed, account shall be taken of its exceptional, recurrent or permanent nature and of its seriousness.

2.   When assessing the conduct observed, account shall be taken of its exceptional, recurrent or permanent nature and of its seriousness. Account shall also be taken, if applicable, of possible damage inflicted on the dignity and reputation of Parliament.

4.   The measures laid down in points (b) to (e) of paragraph 3 may be doubled in the case of repeated offences , or if the Member refuses to comply with a measure taken under Rule 165(3).

4.   The measures laid down in points (b) to (e) of paragraph 3 may be doubled in the case of repeated breaches , or if the Member refuses to comply with a measure taken under Rule 165(3).

7.   The President may put other amendments to the vote collectively where they are complementary, unless a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold have requested separate or split votes. Authors of amendments may also propose such collective votes where their amendments are complementary.

7.   The President may put other amendments to the vote collectively where they are complementary, unless a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold have requested separate or split votes. Authors of amendments may also propose collective votes on their amendments.

10.   Amendments in respect of which a roll-call vote has been requested shall be put to the vote individually .

10.   Amendments in respect of which a roll-call vote has been requested shall be put to the vote separately from other amendments .

1.   At the first committee meeting after the appointment of committee members pursuant to Rule 199, the committee shall elect a bureau consisting of a Chair and of Vice-Chairs from among its full members in separate ballots. The number of Vice-Chairs to be elected shall be determined by Parliament upon a proposal by the Conference of Presidents. The diversity of Parliament must be reflected in the composition of the bureau of each committee; it shall not be permissible to have an all male or all female bureau or for all of the Vice-Chairs to come from the same Member State.

1.   At the first committee meeting after the appointment of committee members pursuant to Rule 199, and again two and a half years thereafter , the committee shall elect a bureau consisting of a Chair and of Vice-Chairs from among its full members in separate ballots. The number of Vice-Chairs to be elected shall be determined by Parliament upon a proposal by the Conference of Presidents. The diversity of Parliament must be reflected in the composition of the bureau of each committee; it shall not be permissible to have an all male or all female bureau or for all of the Vice-Chairs to come from the same Member State.

4.   Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold in the committee which has applied the confidential procedure may request consideration of a breach of confidentiality. This request may be placed on the agenda of the next committee meeting. By a majority of its members, the committee may decide to submit the matter to the President for further consideration under Rules 11 and 166.

4.    Without prejudice to the applicable rules on breach of confidentiality in general, Members or a political group or groups reaching at least the medium threshold in the committee which has applied the confidential procedure may request consideration of a breach of confidentiality. This request may be placed on the agenda of the next committee meeting. By a majority of its members, the committee may decide to submit the matter to the President for further consideration under Rules 11 and 166.

7 a.     Parliament shall hold a debate on a citizens' initiative published in the relevant register pursuant to point (a) of Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011, at a part-session following the public hearing and shall, when placing the debate on its agenda, decide whether or not to wind up the debate with a resolution. It shall not wind up the debate with a resolution if a report on an identical or similar subject matter is scheduled for the same or the next part-session, unless the President, for exceptional reasons, proposes otherwise. If Parliament decides to wind up a debate with a resolution, the committee responsible for the subject matter or a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold may table a motion for a resolution. Rule 123(3) to (8) concerning the tabling and voting of motions for resolutions shall apply mutatis mutandis.

8.   In the event that the Commission fails to put forward a proposal for a legal act on a citizens' initiative , successfully submitted to it in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011, within a twelve-month period after issuing a positive opinion on it and setting out in a communication the action it intends to take , the committee responsible for the subject matter may organise a hearing in consultation with the citizen's initiative organisers and, if necessary, may activate the procedure laid down in Rule 46 with a view to exercising Parliament's right to request the Commission to submit an appropriate proposal .

8.    Following the Commission's communication setting out its legal and political conclusions on a specific citizens’ initiative, Parliament shall assess the actions taken by the Commission as a result of such communication. In the event that the Commission fails to submit an appropriate proposal on a citizens' initiative, the committee responsible for the subject matter may organise a hearing in consultation with the citizens' initiative organisers . Furthermore, Parliament may decide whether to hold a plenary debate and whether to wind up this debate with a resolution. The procedure set out in Rule 211(7a) shall apply mutatis mutandis. Parliament may also decide to exercise the right conferred on it by Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, thereby activating the procedure laid down in Rule 46.

2a.     On the basis of the first subparagraph of Article 10(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014, a group of at least 50 citizens may submit a reasoned request inviting Parliament to request the verification mentioned in paragraph 2. That reasoned request shall not be launched or signed by Members. It shall include substantial factual evidence showing that the European political party or European political foundation in question does not comply with the conditions referred to in paragraph 2.

Rule 228a

Gender Mainstreaming

The Bureau shall adopt a gender action plan aimed at incorporating a gender perspective in all Parliament’s activities, at all levels and all stages. The gender action plan shall be monitored bi-annually and reviewed at least every five years.